Boasting panoramic views of all the majestic scenery and rugged mountain ranges that Queenstown has to offer, it is easy to see how the residents of Kawarau Heights could spend endless hours lost in imagination, breathing in the beautiful vastness of the deep south.

Taking its pride of place in the Ladies Mile gateway, half way between the Shotover River and Lake Hays, Kawarau Heights is a residential development, carefully curated by Sanderson Group.

For over 35 years the family-owned Sanderson Group has set the standard for luxury retirement living in New Zealand, and has applied the same ethos, care and attention to detail in Kawarau Heights.

“We’re creating something unique while establishing the highest standard for luxury residential living in Queenstown,” says Group CEO Jared Baronian.

“Fraser Sanderson acquired thirty-five hectares on the southern side of Ladies Mile in 2016. He had a vision to develop an integrated community including residential, medical / retail, and retirement living. Kawarau Heights is the final chapter in that vision.”

The entrance to Kawarau Heights speaks of quality with mountable kerbs, exposed footpaths, and stone cobble crossings hand picked from Italy.

But it is the location and the very site itself that leaves you with no doubt that you are experiencing a very special place in New Zealand.

“We’re located high up on an elevated level plateau, which makes it really exclusive and special,” says Jared.

“I love the ‘little and big’ knolls on the south side of the site covered in tussock grass. It really feels like you’re up in the alps, while only a stone’s throw away from your favourite restaurants or golf courses.

“It has expansive panoramic views of The Remarkables, Crown Ranges, Cardrona, Coronet Peak, and Ben Lomond behind the Queenstown gondola. You can see Chard Farm down Gibbston Valley, even the snow machines working up on Coronet Peak.”

Protected from the prevailing southerly wind, Kawarau Heights is blessed with its own microclimate. Sunny and north facing, it is warm all year round.

“Great for outdoor living — even in winter you will be able to swim outside in your warm heated swimming pool,” remarks Jared.

For the hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts, trails have been built into the site that directly link into Queenstown’s 130km cycle trail network, providing the opportunity to head off on a wilderness adventure.

Embracing nine hectares and divided into 100 individual lots ranging from 350 sqm to 1400 sqm, Kawarau Heights will offer the last low density lots between Frankton and Arrowtown.

Pricing for house and land packages will range from $2.5 million to low $4.0 million. Ultimately early buyers will be rewarded, with prices going north as the development progresses.

Jared acknowledges that providing peace of mind for buyers that the value of their investment will be protected is a key consideration and says that is provided by Kawarau Height’s master plan, design control, land and building covenants.

Sanderson Group’s end to end involvement in the development includes the building of each home and the site team is led by Scott Walker.

“Scott has been building the best homes in Queenstown for more than twenty-five years including Millbrook. Scott has an eye for design, detail, quality and finish.

“So Sanderson Group is the head developer and head builder on the site. We did our own earthworks and Benchmark did all our civils.”

Maintaining a high standard of architectural influence within the subdivision, Sanderson Group’s own in-house architectural design team is involved in every home built in Kawarau Heights.

While the aesthetic from the Queenstown Country Club with its simple gable ends, proportional forms and the use of cedar and schist flows through to Kawarau Heights, Sanderson Group also wants to introduce modern contemporary architecture.

“There are pockets within Kawarau Heights where sites have been hand selected for flat roofed homes and ‘transitions’ homes where fifty percent of the roof is flat and the other part gable, enabling us to control a balance between traditional and contemporary architecture. Another advantage of this approach is protecting key view shafts across the development.”

Jared envisages that the completion and sale of all 100 homes in Kawarau Heights will be a six year project.

“The first eight homes are currently under construction, with the first three homes marketed by Gerard Bligh and Hadley van Schaik from Sotheby’s at the end of April.

“For many buyers the design and build process is quite challenging.

“Providing architecturally designed homes with a full turnkey solution removes that challenge for the buyer.

“The homes are finished to the highest standard, complete with decks and landscaping, ready to move into for the ski season.

“We expect buyers who are typically fifty plus years of age, and may have been in the property market for some time, and want to spend the best years of their lives in this alpine location.”

Original article from Business South – view article.